Fastener-applying device



Mardi l2, 1940- A. H. MAYNARD ET AL 2,193,599

FASTENER -ARPLY ING DVI CE Filed Deo. l2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mardi 121940- A. HQMAYNARD Erm. 2,193,599

FASTENER-APPLYING DEVICE 4 Filed Dec. 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vPatented Mar. 12, 1.940;

f 4' l, UNITED N s'mfrl l FAsTENEn-APPLYING DEVICE y l Arthur H.vMaynard, Warwick, and Joseph M.r

Gambao, East Greenwich, R. I., assignors to. Boston Wire Sttcher"Company, Warwick, 1%. I., a corporation of Maine Application December12, 193s, serai No. 245,106

At claims. Y(o1. i-sy' f This Ainvention is'a continuation-inpart of ourprior` United States Letters Patent' No.y

' 2,181,904, granted Dec. 5. 1939, and relates to improveniente infastener-applying devices for attaching papers and'other sheets.lsecuring tags and labels. to.k articles of commerceand* for ,use fgenerally in fastening or stitching together varions objects andarticles.

" Oney object: of the invention is to provide an implement ofthe typeindicated adapted for applying the lfasteners to the Work to formeither` a permanent at stitch or atemporary pin-stitch.l

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the typeindicated having a sliding anvil ywith selective means for effectingeither ya at permanent stitch or a temporary pin-stitch.v c i -Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an implementl oi the typeindicated wherein the .fastener-applying means is held in raised posil.

` tion with respect to the work sumoortecl.y directly onthe `leasev ofthe implement until La fastener has been driven through the work andlthereafter moved toward thefwork to engage the ends of` thepro'jectinglegs of the fastener with clinchving means on the base.

{Another object of the invention is to `provide an implement of thetypeindicated wherein the yielding means for holding thefastener-applying means raised with respect to the wor-lr` on the baseis carried by an arm on which the stapling means is mounted, eitherforwardly or rearwardly ofthe fastener-driving means. Another-object ofthe invention is to provide means for retaining the work in Aixedvposition on the baseof the implement throughout the fastener-applyingoperation.

Still another object of the invention isl to provide an implement of thetype indicated which zis of `simple and compact construction and prooiagainst derangement or getting out of order.

' Further objects of the invention are set forth in the followingyspecication which describes several forms of construction of theimplement,

,by way of example, as illustrated bythe accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:v Fig. 1 is va perspective view of one type of implementincorporating the novelieatures of the present invention; .y

Fig. 2 is a part-sectional view of the implement -showing the anviladjusted in position to form a pin-stitchV and the hand-lever depressedto` drive a staplewhile the stapling arm is heldin raised position withrespect to the work;

Fig. 3 is a part-sectional View similarrto Fig. 2-

stitch;

showing the stapling arm depressed into engagement"with the work tofcause the legs ci the driven stapley to be bentV or clinched;

- l Fig. fi is a transverse sectional vview of a portion of the staplingarm sho-wing the means for attaching the elevating spring to the arm;

Figy. is a transverse sectional View von line `5--5 of Fig. 2showing'the legs of 'the driven staple projecting from the stapling armwhile the latter is held in raised position with respect to the work; ll

Fig;v 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the legs of the staple as.having been lientv outwardly by thelcamming grooves in the anvil as thestapling arm is moved toward the hase to form al pin-stitch;

' Fig. 'Z vis av view similar to Fig. 5 showing the endso-f the legs ofthe staple projecting' from `the vstapling arm and engaging'a dierentset of camming grooves in the anvil:

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig.. 7 lshowing the legs of the staple as.having been bent inwardly' by the camming grooves as they staoling armis` moved toward the base to form a permanent Fig. 9 is apart sectionalView of an implement-of modiied form of construction having abowed'spring mounted on the arm forwardly of thedriver and engagealolewith the work to maintain the arm raised with respect to the hase and tohold the work in place thereon; l

Fig. 10 is aside elevational view of the for- Ward portion oftheimplernent illustrated in lig. 9 showing the stapling arm movedtoward the base against the action oi the `bowed spring;`

' and Y Fig. 11 is avsideelevatio-nal view of an implement of anothermodied iorm of construction having a spring-pressed'plunger carried by'the arm. forwardly of the. driver and rengagealole with the work tomaintain the arm raised with respect to the base and to hold the work inplace thereon. l

Although the invention is herein shown anddescribed as embodied in animplement for applying U-shaped Wire staples it may be applied todevices for'applying other types of fasteners. A standard typeI of deskstapler has Aa stapling arm embodying a 'magazine for the staplespivotally mounted on a ,base and staple-applying `mechanism at the en-dof the arm adapted to cooperate with an anvil on the base. With thistypeofimplement a spring is provided for holding the stapling larmraised with respect to the It has heretofore been proposed to provide a,

device for iirst driving a staple through the work and thereafterforcing its straight, projecting legs outwardly to form a flat stitch,but such previously used implements require special clinching f means orother elements to cause the legs to be bent at their points of joinderwith the crown without deformation. In the Maynard United States PatentNo. 1,506,073, issued August 26, 1924, an arched spring-plate is mountedon the base overlying the clinching anvil to act to hold the worksuspended above the anvil until the legs of the staple are driventherethrough. After the legs of the staple have been driven through thework the force applied causes the springplate to yield to effectengagement of the ends of the legs with camming grooves in theclincher-anvil. In the Cavanagh United States Patent No. 2,149,839,issued March '7, 1939, a work-supporter is pivotally mounted on theframe of the implement and is iirst operated to hold the work suspendedabove the anvil while a staple is driven therethrough. Thework-supporter then yields to cause the ends of the staple-legs to beengaged with camming grooves in the anvil whereby to bend the legs intoparallel relation to the crossbar to form a flat stitch.

In accordance with the present invention the spring for holding thestapling arm in raised psition with respect to the base is madesuficiently stili to resist movement of the arm toward the work directlysupported on the base until after the staple-driver has been actuated topenetrate the legs of the staple through the work. In other words, thespring for holding the stapling arm raised is more resistant than thespring for holding the staple-driver in raised position on the arm.After the legs of the staple have been peneti-ated through the work thearm moves toward the work to engage the ends of the projecting legs ofthe staple with camming grooves on the base to cause the legs to berocked into parallel relation tc the staple-crossbar without substantialdeformation intermediate their ends. In accordance with the presentimprovement the spring for holding the stapling arm raised with respectto the base while a staple is being driven initially may be carried bythe arm and be positioned either forwardly or rearwardly of thestaple-driver. Preferably, a slidable anvil mounted on the base of theimplement is provided with separate sets of camming grooves whereby thestaples may be applied to the work with either a permanent stitch or atemporary pin-stitch.

In its preferred form as herein illustrated the invention is embodied ina fastener-applying implement of the type shown and described in UnitedStates Letters Patent to Maynard, No. 2,037,334, issued April lll, 1936.Suffice it to state herein that the implementy comprises a base 2, astapling arm 3 pivotally mounted on the base and an actuating lever flpivotally mounted on the arm and connected to operate a staple-driver 5.The base 2 is preferably constructed of sheetmetal stamped or embossedto form a generally flat, rectangular top plate 6 bounded by a dependingbevel flange '1. Fastened to the top plate 6 of the base 2 adjacent itsrearward end is a hinge-block or mounting 8 for the stapling arm 3 whichis formed as a hollow magazine for the staples s. The stapling arm 3 ispivotally mounted on a pin 9 carried by rearwardly-extending ears I0 onthe hinge-block 8 with its ends projecting laterally through thedepending sides of an inverted U-shaped member I I attached to thebottom of the arm. The sides of the member II overlie the sides of thehinge-block 8 on the base 2 to prevent lateral twisting of the arm 3with respect to the base.

The stapling arm 3 is of channel-shape in cross-section, see Fig. 4,having an inverted vchannel-shaped core I5 extending longitudinallythereof and secured therein for supporting U- shaped staples s straddledthereacross. The forward end of the core I5 is provided withlaterally-oiset, depending side flanges I6 having laterally-projectinglatching lugs Il thereon. A channel-shaped member I8 is supportedbetween the side walls of the arm 3 with its bottom wall I8 overlyingthe core I5 in spaced relation thereto to hold the staples in placethereon. The forward end of the arm 3 is closed by a U-shaped gate 2D,

having a front wall 2I which cooperates with the end of the core toprovide a throat 22 through which the staples are driven and side walls23 which overlie the sides of the core with notches 24 formed thereinfor cooperation with the lugs Il. The gate is pivotally mounted on themember I3 by means of a pin 25 which extends transversely through ovalslots 26 in the side walls of the member with its ends secured to theside walls 23 of the gate. Thus, the pin 25 may pivot on the member I8to permit the gate 20 to be swung away from the end of the core I5 toopen the magazine. Normally, the gate 20 is held in closed position asillustrated in Fig. 1 by the notches 24 in its side walls 23 beingyieldingly engaged with the lugsr I'I on the depending flanges I6 of thecore I5. A hairpin-shaped spring 2l tensioned between the arm 3 andpivotpin retains the notches 24 in engagement with the lugs I'I. Thestaples s in the magazine are advanced along the core I5 toward thethroat 22 by means of a pusher 28 and spring 29 connected thereto.

The staple-driver 5 is mounted to reciprocate in the throat T22 at theforward end of the arm 3, being connected to the lever 4 to be operatedthereby. The lever l is of inverted channelshape in cross-section havingopposite sides 3B overlying the sides of the arm 3 and a front wall 3l'overlying the forward end of the arm. The lever 4 is pivotally mountedon the arm 3 by means of a pin 38 extending transversely through thesides of the member I8 and the sides of the lever. Mounted on the insideface of the front wall 3l of the lever 4 is a block 39 having a tongue46 which extends rearwardly through a suitable orifice in the driver 5.The lever 4 is yieldingly held in raised position with respect to thearm 3, as illustrated in Fig. 2, by means of a relatively weak hairpinspring 4I. Surmounting the forward end of the lever 4 is a pad 42providing a hand-rest to adapt the lever to be manually depressedagainst the action of the spring 4I. Pivotally mounted between the sidesof the LI-shaped member I8 on the arm 3 is an element 43 which servesthe double function of clogging the staples when the gate 2i) is openand preventing a complete return of the driver 5 until a full drivingstroke has been accomplished; this latter device ,i has one end Iattached tothe bottoni of the' stapling arm il by means of a screw 52extending y through the spring and bottom wall of the arm p All* estatesis mounted for combined' pivotal and. longitudinal. movement to hold thecrossbar of each staple s being driven against the bottom edge of thedriver 5. As thus far described the implement is substantially identicalwith that illustratedv in the Maynard Patent 2,937,334 referred toabove.

In` accordance with the present invention, resilient means are providedfor holding the forward end of the stapling arm 3 in raised positionAabove the base 2 until the lever il'has `been depressed with respect tothe arm to penetrate the legs of the staple through the work; theresilient means thereafter yielding to permit the arm to move toward'the base. -As herein illustrated, one suitable means for holding the armt elevated above the base 2 comprises a leaf-spring 5d attached-to thearm and engageable with the anvil 60 on the base 2. As illustrated inFigs. 1 to Il, thespring 50 is positioned rearwardly of the driverl' andand a nu screwed onto the threaded portion of the screw. The nut 53 istightened against the bottom wall of the arm 3 iand is held againstturning by its engagement with the opposite sidesy of the channel-shapedcore i5, see Eig. fi. The spring 5l) extends downwardly and forwardlyand has its free end 5t vcurved to adapt it to bear against and slidealong the top of the anvil tti on the base'2 rearwardly of the work w.The

f spring 59 of thepresent invention differs from` springs heretoforeused for a similar purpose in that it is made of such dimensions or ofsuch material as to have a greater tension than the spring M previouslydescribed, whereof to hold the arm 3 in raised position with respecttcthe base t until the driver 5 has been operated to drive a staple ssuiciently to penetrateits legs through the work.

The anvil Sii is slidably mounted on the base 2 of the implement toselectively aline one orthe other of twor separate sets of camminggrooves Si and 62 with the driver 5. The anvil Sil coni- -prises a flatplate which overlies the top plate 6 at the forward end of the base 2and is provided with laterally-extending finger-pieces t3 to faciliitomsl of the camming grooves lil are continuously curved from the topface of the anvil at their outer ends inwardly toward `each other and teminate in a common apex (54 at the center, see Fig. 7. The camminggrooves 62, on the other hand, areadapted to forni a temporarypin-stitch x byl being arranged in longitudinally-spaced relationshipwththeir inner ends spaced apart al being driven the camming grooves lilor 62 of` The bottween the anvil til and the staple-applying mechanismon the arme and the pad i2 at the forthe present inventionact torocl:rthe legs of the staplev about axes having a fixed-relation totheirpoints of joinder with the crossbar ofthe staple withoutsubstantially'deforming the legs intermediate their ends. Therefore, bythe [term rock as used herein and in the appended claims is meant theswinging movement of the legs about axes which are relatiVelyi-lxeclinrelation to the staple without substantial deformation intermediatethe ends of the legs in contradistincti'on to the usual curved clinchcaused by a continuons deformation of the legs by the clincher-grooveswhile the staple is being driven.A

rlhe anvil @il overlies a slot t@ in the top plate t of the base 2having a narrow bridge tl extending thereacross intermediate its ends,the bridge being of a width corresponding to the space between the twosets of camming grooves lil and h2 in the anvil Eli. The lanvil isprovided with depending fianges 68 and GSatits opposite endsl adaptedftofit closely'betweenthe edges of the slot t5 to Ahold the anvil against`turning on the base, and a depending detent lll onits bottom is adaptedto cooperate with the opposite edges of the bridge to retain the anvilin one orthe other of its two operative positions. rTheA anvil ti? isyieldingly held against the top plate il of the hase 2 by means of aspring iii on a stud itdepending from the anvil and projecting `throughthe slot Sie. The compression spring 'l5 is mounted on the shank of thestud 'M and acts between a head 'it at the lower end of the stud and awasher 'il on the shank to press the latter against the bottom of thetop plate 6 of the base 2' at the opposite sides of the slot lili. Oneform of the invention having nowr been described in detail its mode ofoperation is explained as follows:

The implement is irst prepared for operation by sliding the gate Eilupwardly and then roel;- ing it on its pivot-pin E5 to open the forwardend of themagazine in the arm 3. A supply of staples s, preferably inthe form of a stick, is then slid rearwardly onto the core it againstthe action of the ypusher 23, the's'pring yielding for this purpose.When'released, the staples are held against movement outwardly of themagazine inthe arm by the element #i3 until thegate'Zii is rocked to itsclosed position to release the element. The staples s are automaticallyfed forwardly by the pusher 2S under the action of the spring 2li toposition the foremost staple in the throat 22. If a temporary pin-stitchis to lbe formed the anvil Si! is slid rearwardly to position thecamming grooves il@ in alinement with the driver tand when a permanentstitch is to be made .the anvil is slid forwardly to positionthevcarnrning grooves 5i. in alinement with the driver.

The vwork w is positioned inv the open-ing beward endvof the lever Il isthen depressed. Due

to the resistance of the spring 5d acting between the arm 3 and the base2, the forward end of thel arm is held in raised position with respectto the base 2 until the :driver 5 has been yoperated. throughsubstantially a complete' driving stroke to drive a staple s" to pierceits legs through the work w in the manner illustrated in Figs.- 2 and`5.Thereafter, continued pressure on the lever ficauses the spring lEl? toyield and the forward end of the arm 3 to move toward the anvil El?. Theengagement o-f the ends of the legs of the staple s with the camminggrooves 62 then causes them to be rocked` outwardly with respect to thecross- `of its side walls.

bar of the staple without substantial deformation intermediate theirends and the crossbar. This rocking movement of the legs of the staple scontinues during the movement of the arm 3 toward the work until thelegs are in substantially parallel relation to the crossbar of thestaple to forni a pin-stitch in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. Due tothe alinement of the laterallyprojecting legs of the staplesubstantially with its cross bar the stitch may be easily and quicklyremoved in the manner of withdrawing a pin without mutilating or tearingthe work. When the lever i is released the springs 4| and 50 act toraise the lever and the driver 5 with respect to the arm 3 and to raisethe arm with respect to the base.

When a permanent stitch is to be formed the anvil 5U is slid along thebase 2 to aline the camgrooves 5| with the driver 5. To slide the anvil6D the laterally-extending finger-pieces 63 are grasped between the ngerand thumb and the anvil drawn forwardly on the base 2. Due to theinclination of the sides of the depending detent l@ the anvil 60 iscamined upwardly against the action of the spring 'l5 whereby the detentwill ride over the bridge 6l during its forward movement until thedepending flange 69 on the anvil engages the end of the slot portion 68.The camming grooves 8| are then alined with the driver 5 and the detent'lll is engaged with the opposite side of the bridge 6l to yieldinglyhold the anvil @-9 in operative position on the base 2. With thislast-described adjtment the staple s is driven in the Same manner asexplained above, the arm 3 being held in raised position with respect tothe base 2 until the staple is driven to penetrate its legs through thework and thereafter moved toward the work to engage the ends of the legswith the camming grooves 6l as illustrated in Fig. 9. Continued movementof the arm 3 with respect to the base 2 causes the legs of the staple tobe rocked inwardly toward each other without substantial deformationintermediate their ends and the crossbar to form a flat permanentclinch.

In Figs. 9 and 10, a modified form of construction of the implement isillustrated. In this form of construction the means for yieldinglyholding the stapling arm 3 raised with respect to the base 2 comprises abowed spring 80 attached to the arm 3 forwardly of the driver 5. Asillustrated in the present drawings, the spring has one end attached tothe front wall 8| of a gate 82 by means of a screw 83 and is bowedoutwardly, downwardly and then inwardly so that its free end 84 overliesthe anvil 69 forwardly of the driver 5. Projecting rearwardly from thespring 89 is a lug 92 which seats in a suitable recess in the front wall8| of the gate 82 to hold the spring from turning about the axis of thescrew 93. The gate 82 is similar to the gate 29 illustrated in Figs. lto 3 but has the lower rearward edges 85 of' its side walls 8E shaped toengage abutments 8T struck outwardly from the flanges I8 on the arm 3.The gate 82 is prevented from being moved upwardly by the pressure ofthe spring 88 by its pivot-pin 88 being mounted in closely f1ttingcircular bearing apertures 89 in the side walls of the member I8 insteadof in oval slots as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. The gate 82 is held inclosed position on the arm 8 with the lower rearward edges of its sidewalls S6 in engagement with the abutments 31 by means of the spring 2lwhich bears on the flat, upper edges 98 Thus, the gate 82 is yieldinglyheld in closed position on the arm 3 and prevented from upward movementbut is adapted to pivot in the usual manner to open the magazine, thespring 2l yielding for this purpose and engaging the forward edges 9| ofthe side walls of the gate to hold it open.

The implement illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is operated in the same wayas explained with respect to the implement illustrated in Figs. l to 3.When pressure is applied on the pad 42 the arm 3 is held in raisedposition with respect to the base 2 by the engagement of the free end 84of the bowed spring 88 with the work 'w on the anvil 60 at a pointforwardly of the driver 5 until the latter has been actuated to drive astaple to penetrate its legs through the work. The bowed spring 80thereafter yields to permit the arm 3 to move toward the base to causethe projecting legs of the staples to be rocked into parallelrelationship to its crossbar by the camming grooves 6| or G2 in theanvil 60. The spring 80 also has the added function of holding the workin place on the anvil during the driving and setting of the staple.

In Fig. 1l another modied form of construction of the implement isillustrated. In this form of construction a plunger is mounted on thearm 3 forwardly of the driver 5. The gate 98 in this embodiment issimilar to that illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 except that its front wallSl has brackets 98 and 9S struck outwardly therefrom and apertured toreceive the plunger 95. As herein illustrated, the plunger 95 has aportion |09 projecting downwardly through the aperture in the bracket99, an annular collar |0| adapted to seat against the upper face of thebracket 99 and a reduced shank |82 which projects upwardly through theaperture in the bracket 98. A helical spring |03 is coiled around theshank |02 and acts between the bracket 98 and the annular collar ||l| onthe plunger 95 to hold the collar seated against the upper face of thebracket 99.

The plunger 95 acts in the same manner as the bowed spring 80 to holdthe arm 3 raised with respect to the base 2 until the driver 5 has beenactuated to drive a staple to penetrate its legs through the Work. Thespring |03 then yields to permit the arm 3 to move downwardly withrespect to the plunger 95 toward the base 2 to engage the ends of thelegs of the staple with the camming grooves 6| or 52 to cause them to berocked into parallel relation to the crossbar of the staple. The plunger95 has the same supplementary function as the spring 80 to hold the`Work in position on the anvil 6l).

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides a construction and arrangement of elements wherein the springfor holding the arm raised with respect to the base is more resistantthan the spring for holding the driver in raised position on the armwhereby a staple may be driven to penetrate its legs through the workbefore the legs are clinched. It will also be observed that the springmay be carried by the arm and positioned either forwardly or rearwardlyof the driver.

While the device is herein illustrated as embodied in several preferredforms of construction it is to be understood that modifications may bemade in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitingourselves in this respect, we claim:

1. In a device of the type indicated, an anvil adapted to support thework directly thereon, fastener-applying means mounted for movementtoward and away from the anvil, a driver carried by thefastener-applying means, a spring for holding the driver in raisedposition with respect to the fastener-applying means, a second springcarried by the fastener-applying means and having greater resistancethan the first-,mentioned spring, said second-mentioned spring acting onthe anvil Ato hold the. fastener-applyingvmeans raised with respect tothe workA until the driver has been actuated to drive a fastener topenetrate the ends of its legs through the work and thereafter yieldingto permit the fastener-applying means to move toward the anvil.

2. In a device of the type indicated, `an anvil adapted to support thework directly thereon, an arm mounted for movement toward and away fromthe anvil, a driver on the arm for applying staples fed thereto, aspring for holding the driver in Vraised position on the arm, a secondspring of greater resistance than the first-mentioned spring acting onthe arm forwardly of the driver, said second-mentioned spring operatingto hold the arm raised with respect to the work on the anvil until thedriver' has been actuated to drive a staple to penetrate the ends of itslegs through the work and thereafter yielding to permit the arm to movetoward the anvil.

3. In a device ofthe type indicated, a base adapted to support the Workdirectly thereon, an arm mounted on the base for movement towardand-away from the latter, a driver on the arm for applying staples fedthereto, a spring for holding the driver in raised position on the arm,

and yieldable means of greater resistance thanl the spring, said meansmounted on the arm forwardly of the driver and operating to hold the armraised with respect to the work on the base until the driver has beenactuated to drive a staple to penetrate the ends of its legs through thework and thereafter yielding to permit the arm to move toward the base.

4. In a device of the type indicated, a base adapted to support the workvdirectly thereon, an arm mounted on the base for movement toward andaway from the latter, a driver on the arm for applying staples fedthereto, a spring for holding the driver in raised position on the arm,and a bowed spring of greater resistance than the` rstmentioned springand mounted on the arm forwardly of the driver, said spring actingagainst the base to hold the arm raised with respect to the Work on'thebase until the driver has been actuated to drive a staple tovpenetratethe ends oi its legs through the Work and thereafter yielding to permitthe arm. to move toward the base.

`5. In a device of the type indicated, a base adapted'to rsupport thework directly thereon, an arm mounted on the base for movement to- Wardand away from the latter, a driver on the arm for-applying staples fedthereto, a spring for holding the driver in raised position on the arm,a plunger mounted on thearm'forwardly of the driver, a spring of greaterresistance than the first-mentioned spring acting on the plunger, saidspring-actuated plunger operating to hold the armA raised With respect`to the work on the a staple to penetrate the ends of its legs throughthe Work and thereafter yielding to permit the u arm to move toward thebase.

arm raised with respect to the work on the base' until a staple has beendriven to penetrate the ends of its legs through the work, and cammingmeans on said base, said camming means being engaged bythe ends of theprojecting legs of the staple to rock them into parallel relation to thecrossbar of' the staple Without substantial deformation intermediatetheir ends.

ARTHUR H. MAYNARD.. JOSEPH M. GAMBAO.

base until the driver has been actuated to drive

